PIPE SPRING Cultures at a Crossroads: An Administrative History

Monument Administration (continued)

Construction of the Park Service Well

On January 12, 1971, Chief Gerard S. Witucki and Hydrologist Donald C. Barrett, both of the Water Resources Section, National Park Service's Western Service Center (WSC), held a pre-construction conference at Pipe Spring National Monument between the contractor, monument staff, and the U.S. Geological Service (USGS). [2112] Park Service personnel attending the meeting were General Superintendent Karl Gilbert, Acting Park Manager Jim Schaack, Civil Engineer William ("Bill") Fields (Southwest Regional Office), Maintenance Foreman Mel Heaton, and Park Guide Joe Bolander. Fields was also chief of the Indian Assistance Program as well as former chief of Water Rights, Western Office of Design and Construction. Hydrologic Technician E. L. Gillespie represented the USGS (Flagstaff office) at the meeting. The Tribe's economic development planner, Merle C. Jake, did not attend the meeting but accompanied the men during the selection of a well site at Two Mile Wash. A location agreeable to all was selected by the USGS. [2113] That afternoon Park Service staff met with the Tribal Council to discuss plans for the new well. On January 19, Chief Witucki authorized the district chief of the USGS in Tucson, Arizona, to conduct pump testing of test wells. Funds in the amount of $2,000 were available for the testing part of the project. (This figure was later increased to $3,500.) The Western Service Center supervised and financed the drilling of the well on the Kaibab Indian Reservation.

Hydrologist Barrett returned to the area in early February 1971. On February 9, he traveled to Fredonia, Arizona, and met with USGS Hydrologist E. McGavock and Hydrologic Technician Gillespie to discuss the drilling results and geo-hydrologic problems involved in obtaining water from the alluvium of Two Mile Wash and adjacent Moccasin Wash. A chief consideration in choosing a well site was that pumping not impact the existing well at Moccasin or Pipe Spring. Four non-productive wells had been drilled so far and a fifth well was in the final stages of drilling by the time of Barrett's arrival. On January 10, the drilling of the fifth test well was completed, which proved also to be dry. The tests indicated that no dependable alluvial source of water existed in the Two Mile Wash area. [2114] What water was present in the surface drainage was of very poor quality. The men agreed that a successful well might be completed in a structural trap in the Navajo Sandstone bedrock rather than in the alluvium. Barrett spent February 10-12 in the area studying the situation. He obtained approval from the Western Service Center to have the contractor drill a well at a site selected by McGavock, two miles north of the monument, then made arrangements for a road to be put in to the well site. Finally, he met with the contractor in Hurricane on the 11th. The men worked out a proposed design for the new well and tentatively agreed to necessary changes in the contract schedule for drilling into the bedrock, at a depth expected to be about 200 feet.

Hydrologist Barrett returned to the area on March 25, 1971, to evaluate the pumping test, to make recommendations for the completion of the well, and to discuss a change order with the contractor. He later reported to WSC Director William L. Bowen that the maximum yield of the well appeared to be on the order of 150 gallons per minute or more. The water quality was good, derived from a bedrock aquifer. "Just what long term effects this yield will have on the water reserves of the aquifer cannot be accurately foretold at this time (e.g., mining the waters)," Barrett wrote. [2115] The well was to have been a test well, but because of certain drilling requirements relating to the geology of the area, it was drilled as an eight-inch well at a depth of 205 feet. This resulted in it being classified as a production well.

During the last week of March 1971, a master plan study team met at Pipe Spring. Several meetings were held with the Kaibab Paiute during that time which convinced General Superintendent Gilbert that quick action on the new Pipe Spring water system was of the utmost importance. Gilbert reported to Regional Director Frank F. Kowski in late March that the well was a good one, capable of producing 150-200 gallons per minute. While the well had been drilled with the Tribe's permission, no agreement had been executed for the future use of the well, Gilbert emphasized. The meetings just held with the Indians were amicable, wrote Gilbert, and he did not think working out a water agreement with them would be difficult. He made the following observations:

Since quantity of water seems to be no problem, the Park Service should look toward an agreement that would make possible the use of the total Pipe Spring spring flow within the monument for the historical preservation of the area. I suggest we consider giving the Indians, free of charge, an amount of water (approximately fifteen gallons per minute) equal to their spring right, to offset their use of spring water. Beyond this, I suggest we furnish them water at cost of production.

The Indians have advised us that they are now ready to move on their planned construction projects adjacent to Pipe Spring. They tell us their intent is the immediate construction of a modern campground and the possible construction of a motel-craft store-service station complex. They now have a sizable Tribal Council-office building completed.

This proposed construction puts us behind the '8-ball' because the Indians have suggested the possibility of their putting in a temporary water system utilizing the new well, a small metal tank, and plastic pipe until such time as we can provide the system we hope to install.

Based on the overall existing picture, I believe the Park Service should move ahead as fast as possible on the Pipe Spring water system. [2116]

While the construction program for fiscal year 1972 budgeted only for plans and surveys of test wells, Gilbert argued that construction of the new well needed to be completed that year as well. He asked Kowski to find funds for that purpose, stating, "I believe it to be extremely important for the overall preservation of the area, and necessary to insure that the monument's historical integrity will not be damaged by hit-and-miss construction by the Indians." [2117] The funds were found.

A few days later Gilbert sent Kowski an agreement he had drafted relating to the use of the new well drilled by the Park Service on tribal land. He asked for the regional director's review and comment. In his cover letter, Gilbert wrote,

This agreement should be as short as possible, yet all-inclusive. It should not indicate that the Indians are giving us anything or that we are selling them water from their own reservation. Now is not the time to think of the NPS acquiring any additional water rights from the spring.

This agreement is urgent; we can't mark time and still keep in good stead with the Paiutes. They want to move, and will move if we sit idly by. [2118]

Park Service officials had urged the Tribe to take advantage of its Indian Assistance Program for some time. Evidence of a positive response came in late March when Tribal Chairman Bill Tom submitted a formal request to Gilbert for assistance:

The Kaibab Paiute Tribe is planning economic developments in the Pipe Springs area and are aware that it is necessary to provide for a cooperative approval to mutual problems. The Council has learned that you have a staff that can lend assistance to our planning. Therefore, it would be appreciated if you would assign some of your staff to work with our people in the preparation of a land use and development plan for the Pipe Springs area. [2119]

This request was music to Park Service ears. The road ahead, however, would not be an entirely smooth one.

123. Aerial view of Pipe Spring National Monument, April 1971
(Courtesy William E. Fields).